Do Eco Cleaning Products Work?

We all want to do our bit for the environment, but when it comes to keeping our houses clean, most of us think we have to do a deal with a devil. Chemicals may be evil and unpleasant but at least they do the job. What we want is a range of eco cleaning products that don't harm the environment, but prevent your house becoming a health hazard. Easy as pie really.

For a long time, eco experts recommended ditching the chemicals and using natural products instead. Vinegar, lemons, bicarbonate of soda along with natural brushes and recycled cloth should all do the job. Is this really possible?

For a start there are all sorts of things to consider. Firstly where should I get my lemons from? Fair trade is good, of course, but from an eco point of view food miles is better. And then there's the performance.

While chemicals may be bad, at least they shift the grime. Lemons and vinegar may save the planet, but they can't clean your kitchen. What we needed were a range of eco cleaning products.

And that's what we got. Companies have dived headlong into the market devoting all their considerable know how to find a way to offer the kind of cleaning home owners needed.

But before you celebrate, consider these words of warning. Even the best green cleaning products require a little more elbow grease than conventional brands. You'll have to gather your energies and prepare to work a little harder. It isn't easy being green, they say, and they're right.

You should also stay on the look out for companies that claim more than they can deliver. There is currently not enough firm legislation to stop companies placing green claims on their packaging. In effect anything can claim to be environmentally friendly as long as they're sufficiently vague.

To solve this, follow the motto. Knowledge is power. The more confident a brand is the more information they'll claim. Scrutinise ingredients and avoid those supposedly eco cleaning products that have chemicals hidden amongst the list. Check the websites also. These are increasingly being used as effective tools for companies and offer information-rich marketing. That means they'll tell you everything you need to know about a product.

Never take a company's word for it. Never trust advertising. Both work well as guides for all areas of life. Instead do your research and ask friends. As eco cleaning products become more common word of mouth information is the best way to find out which brands work best.